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Grapes: Finding the cure in food

Medical research involving University of Louisville scientists was recently published in a major industry journal.

Updated: 10:03 PM EDT Jul 18, 2013

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Grapes: Finding the cure in food

Medical research involving University of Louisville scientists was recently published in a major industry journal.

Updated: 10:03 PM EDT Jul 18, 2013

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Grapes: Finding the cure in food

Medical research involving University of Louisville scientists was recently published in a major industry journal.

Updated: 10:03 PM EDT Jul 18, 2013

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WEBVTT RESEARCH INVOLVING U OF L SCIENTISTS IS PUBLISHED IN A MAJOR INDUSTRY JOURNAL. THEIR WORK INVOLVES A SUBSTANCE FOUND IN A COMMON FRUIT. WLKY'S KAREN ROBY EXPLAINS HOW THIS GROCERY STORE STAPLE COULD IMPROVE COUNTLESS LIVES. THIS IS REALLY EXCITING NEWS FOR THE TEAMS BEHIND THE RESEARCH AND FOR OUR POPULATION IN GENERAL. MANY OF US EAT RED GRAPES ON A DAILY BASIS....WITHOUT REALIZING JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE BENEFITS MAY BE. AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BROWN CANCER CENTER, DR. DONALD MILLER IS USED TO SEEING PROGRESS AND THE RESULTS OF HARD WORKING RESEARCHERS. BUT THIS FINDING IS ESPECIALLY PROMISING. HE'S REFERRING TO THE WORK OF DR. HUANG-G- ZHANG AND HIS TEAM OF SCIENTISTS. THEY HAVE PROVEN THAT PARTICULAR NANOPARTICLES ONCE THOUGHT TO ONLY BE ALIVE IN MAMMALS ARE ACTUALLY IN EDIBLE PLANTS TOO.....MOST NOTABLY....RED GRAPES. HERE'S WHY DR. ZHANG AND HIS TEAM ARE SO EXCITED. THE NANOPARTICLES FOUND IN THE GRAPES WERE GIVEN TO ONE GROUP OF TEST MICE...A SECOND GROUP DID NOT RECEIVE THE SUBSTANCE. ALL OF THE MICE WERE THEN INTRODUCED TO COLITIS...A DIGESTIVE DISEASE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CLOSE WATCH...THE MICE FIRST GIVEN THE NANOPARTICLES FROM THE GRAPES FAIRED MUCH BETTER THAN THOSE WHO DIDN'T RECEIVE IT. TO PROVE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK TO HOW OUR ANCESTORS ATE.....ADDING IT MAKES SENSE THAT EDIBLE PLANTS CAN HELP INDUCE OUR OWN STEM CELLS TO PROTECT US FROM DISEASE....WHEN THE FOODS ARE CONSUMED IN MODERATION. THE RESEARCHERS SAY THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. THEY EXPECT THE NANOPARTICLES FROM RED GRAPES WILL SOON BE USED TO TREAT AND POSSIBLY PREVENT MULTIPLE DISEASES IN THE FUTURE. CLINICAL TRIALS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN LOUISVILLE TO FURTHER THE GRAPES RESEARCH. THE DOCTORS ARE HOPING TO APPLY THE TECHNOLOGY TO OTHER EDIBLE PLANTS IN THE FUTURE.